How to clean a shotgun????

[Duckster]

I'm getting ready to retire from the Army, so I bought myself a Used Marlin 120 Magnum 12 Gauge Shotgun for myself. After I shot it this weekend I realized that I will need to clean it now. I have cleaning supplies for my pistols and rifles, but nothing for a shotgun. I know how to clean guns, I'm Infantry. It is just that I'm ignorant about shotguns. I thought about getting a cleaning kit, but I thought to ask for advice first.
1. Should I get a kit?
2. How do you clean the receiver?
3. Is there something I should give special attention too?

Any help would be appreciated, Thanks!!!

[Oldnamvet]

Cleaning shotguns is a lot like cleaning any other weapon. The one area that I would pay particular attention to is the chamber. So many people run a patch through the barrel and call it good. After a lot of that, they complain about ejection problems. The chamber is dirty.

Just noticed that you are at Ft. Bliss. I spent a year there out at Biggs Field. Sure could use some of that El Paso sunshine here.

[RNB65]

Cleaning a shotgun is pretty much the same as cleaning a rifle. The biggest difference is you're cleaning plastic out of the barrel instead of copper or lead. Swab the inside of the barrel with a good solvent like Hoppes #9 then wait a few minutes for it to dissolve the plastic. Run a brass or nylon brush through a few times to scrape the plastic off the bore walls. Then run dry patches through until they come out clean.

A detailed barrel cleaning doesn't have to be done after every shooting session. I do a heavy barrel cleaning with Hoppes and brushes about every 1000 rounds. For a ligher cleaning after every shooting session, I just swab the barrel with CLP, wait a few minutes for it to dissolve power residue, then push a few dry patches through.

For the rest of the gun, just wipe everything with CLP soaked patches until clean. Lightly lube and you're all set to go.

[dfariswheel]

You will find that shotguns accumulate more "crud" in the receiver and trigger group.

This is a mix of burned powder, plastic particles off the shells, and occasionally some brass or steel slivers off the shell heads.

As part of maintenance, use a toothbrush to brush all this out of the receiver and trigger group, then lube with your favorite lube.
Many shotgunners buy a special chamber cleaning brush and handle to scrub fouling and plastic out of the chamber.

A good lube is CLP Breakfree. This will prevent rust and lube inside, and if applied to the outside, will build up a layer of Teflon to prevent rusting.

[Eyesac]

Tampons.

[kentucky_smith]

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu9.htm


Tampons


Beat me to it.

[El Tejon]

I always wadded up paper towels and rammed them through with the bore brush, but cut up kotex would work too.

Make the barrel shiny, field strip and lube the shiny parts (bolt, rails, etc.), wipe the filth off everything and you are set.:)

Duckster, I use SLIP200, cleaner and the "extreme lube": http://www.slip2000.com/

Bought some of this Gunzilla stuff at the last gun show in Indy and it has been working great as well: http://www.topduckproducts.com/testimonials.aspx

[sm]

My Mentors & Elders passed forward to me and it is my responsibility to pass forward to others.

I let folks I assist with in shooting clean my guns. :)

I finally get bigger and I am in some respects the Mentor & Elder to these folks.
Makes perfect sense to me for these folks I assist with to clean guns to become more familiar with inspection, maintaining, and everything to do with these shotguns and other platforms.

I was the one cleaning and doing all this for MY Mentors & Elders.

Makes perfect sense to me.

Each one - teach one. :)

Folks think I am kidding, I know for sure I do not have a shotgun cleaning rod at home, I am not sure I have any cleaning rod at home to fit any firearm. Not sure I even have a cleaning kit to fit anything at home...

Heck I rarely show up with a shotgun, I just show up and somebody usually has some kind of shotgun and some kind of shot shells I can use...

I done turned into a Mentor & Elder I do believe... :D